Scientific thought

This reference work traces the history of science and links scientific ideas to the social questions they have raised. Its chapters are written by specialists in the field and pair them with primary documents that show how science and society have shaped one another over time. Sidebars explore the cultural, economic, and political forces that surrounded scientific work in each period.

The material is organized to serve several school subjects at once. It covers biology, chemistry, general physical science, physics, and Earth science, and it also draws on history and the social sciences. Readers can use it at introductory or advanced levels.

The approach invites readers to weigh how scientific discoveries have affected people across different eras, and to think critically about the social issues that still surround them.